Feed your soul, and briefly separate yourself from life's frenetic pace, by taking a snow day.

With so much to do all the time, it can be difficult to find time to simply breathe, think, and explore our inner landscapes. It is still possible, however, to feed your soul and to briefly separate yourself from life's frenetic pace by taking a snow day. Personal snow days are best taken when you feel like you are running on empty with no chance of respite in sight or when you begin to resent the life you once loved.

Your snow day can go a long way toward dispelling built up stress, provided you give yourself full permission to indulge in nurturing activities. It is not a day to worry about what you're missing or what is still lingering on your to-do list. Rather, it is a day to give yourself a break from your responsibilities so you can return to them when you are fully alert. Once you have scheduled your snow day, try to commit to ignoring your chores, not calling your place of work, and doing only the activities you enjoy. Relax, take a nap in the afternoon, play with children, meditate, work in your garden, or read a novel. Take a long walk in the fading afternoon sunshine and then cook a special dinner for yourself. Let your snow day be as languid and as lazy as you need it to be.

If necessary, prepare for your snow day by getting anything you think you will want or need ahead of time. Clean up or pay the bills the day before so you're not tempted to work. When your snow day is over, hold on to its essence. Take some of the peacefulness you felt and keep it close to your heart. Even though we are a society that values overtime and hard work, you deserve a snow day every now and then.